Here are seven-holiday favorites to keep everyone pleased, whether you're looking for a breezy coastal break or a cozy country getaway. For more ideas, check out our list of the best vacation homes and log cabins in the UK.  

We've learned over the last several years that having a good family vacation doesn't always require fighting with kids through airport customs, shelling out outrageous amounts of money to amuse them on a flight, or even needing your passport. Because the UK has a varied and rich terrain that is dotted with chocolate-box towns, sandy beaches that are perfect for making sandcastles, and bustling cities where the group may take turns experiencing the thrill of the big city, You're probably a lot closer to a family trip than you initially believed. The M25 is beckoning; the Maldives can wait.  

Surrey, Surrey Hills  

This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which covers more than a quarter of the county of Surrey, is one of only 46 protected landscapes in the UK. It is home to the chalky North Downs as well as well-known tourist attractions including Box Hill, Leith Hill, and the Devil's Punch Bowl. The possibilities for adventure in this region of the world are infinite, from the enormous trail network, which is regularly traveled by nature enthusiasts, to the chocolate-box hamlets and market towns that are dotted with independent shops, quaint cafés, and eccentric museums.  

Beaverbrook is a place to stay in the Surrey Hills.  

This 19th-century neoclassical home is beautiful, sophisticated, and glamorous with its parquet flooring, mellow jazz playing in the background, crackling fireplaces in the morning room and library, and fringed Victoriana and ferns about the bar. Susie Atkinson, the designer of several Soho Houses and Lime Wood, has enlisted some of the greatest British designers to furnish the rooms, including Veere Grenney textiles, Soane furniture, and Brian Clarke stained glass pieces. Beautiful views of the 400-acre estate may be seen from the high-ceilinged bedrooms, which include Winston Churchill's suite with its original bathtub and hidden escape path. Nicola Harding opted for a more rustic cottage style with lots of botanical elements and floral motifs in the Garden House. It's as charming as a peach. Atkinson has given the rooms at the Coach House, the newest hideaway behind the spa, the kind of cozy modern-classic styling you might even consider stealing for your own. These rooms feature tongue-and-groove paneling, scalloped Matilda Goad lampshades, and whimsical Mimi Pickard headboards and cushions. Make a beeline for the spa and make an appointment with Leonor; her biodynamic massage is an exhilarating rollercoaster of sweeping shiatsu, Ayurvedic pulling, Chinese energy release, and yogic principles.  

Address: Reigate Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8QX, Beaverbrook Hotel & Spa  

In the Lake District, Ullswater  

Few places in the Lake District are picture-perfect, but Ullswater is without a doubt the most beautiful of the national parks available. Anyone who has been here can attest to this. Ullswater Lake, which glitters between Pooley Bridge and the settlement of Glenriddinh to the north and south, is surrounded by several grand fells, eateries, and paths that wind up the mountainside. Walking is available here, of course, but there are also a variety of watersports to choose from, including sailing, windsurfing, and nearly every other activity in between, as well as the perennially popular Ullswater Steamers, which travel daily across the lake and offer passengers a distinctive viewpoint. The area's largest lake, Windermere, draws a consistent but significant throng throughout the year, but it's much calmer here. Do we suggest Making a day trip to Windermere and basing yourself at Ullswater?  

Accommodations in the Lake District: Another Location  

Consider this relatively new hotel with a great position on serene Ullswater if you need to entice your smartphone-obsessed family outside. It was taken over and renovated by Will Ashworth of Cornwall's popular surfing site Watergate Bay, and it reopened in 2017 with a variety of splash-worthy activities, including swimming, canoeing, and sailing classes, as well as raft-building and stand-up paddleboarding. Thankfully, wetsuits are offered. For children aged three to seven, there is a kids' club in a wooden cabin, and for children aged seven to twelve, there is a safari tent. Both clubs provide drop-off times so that you may relax on the sun-trap terrace or read the newspaper.  

A592, Watermillock, Ullswater, and Penrith CA11 0LP Another Place: The Lake  

Cornwall's North Cornwall Coast  

We are always looking for locations that provide beauty and pleasure in plenty but have managed to evade the larger crowds while traveling during peak periods, which is unavoidable with kids in tow. In addition, even though the North Cornwall Coast is by no means a hidden gem, it nevertheless has several more sedate beaches than some of the more well-known shorelines that surround its southwest point. Of course, some of the busier beaches, like Newquay and Mawgan Porth, which are great for constructing sand castles because they are smoothed by the waves, continue to draw large crowds of tourists, but they are intermingled with quieter areas. Like every coastal location in the UK, this one offers the traditional British summer package, including ice cream in the summer and cozy pubs in the winter, charming towns to explore, and a ton of kid-friendly activities.  

Accommodations in North Cornwall include the Watergate Bay Hotel.  

This family-run refuge in Cornwall has just undergone renovations. It is located on a huge beach with tablecloth-flat sand and kid-friendly rock pools. Go down to the Extreme Academy for surfing instruction, paddleboarding, or something more extreme like kitesurfing or wave skiing by following the timber boardwalk. The welcoming staff can arrange horseback riding and recommend the most breathtaking coastline pathways for cycling, strolling, or running.  

Watergate Bay Hotel, On The Beach, Trevarrian Hill, Newquay TR8 4AA

Devon's Salcombe  

The siren's lure of Salcombe's cerulean waters and the renowned pastel-hued buildings spread up the hillside around the bay make it an apparent but still viable option for the greatest UK family vacations. Here, all that is attractive about a British beach vacation coexists with a decidedly laid-back ambiance that is more reminiscent of stylish places on the continent. a stretch of protected golden beaches along the estuary outside of the area's sparkling bay, which is the actual jewel. These beaches are accessible by vehicle or a brief, charming boat journey. Along with water-based activities (such as fishing and self-drive boats), this area's terrain is also dotted with historic homes, delis that were formerly spoken about back home, and walking paths that run along the coast and through the countryside.  

Accommodations in Salcombe include the Salcombe Harbour Hotel and Spa.  

This location sits on the estuary and offers peaceful views of the nearby beaches. The setting is perfect for the sassy and playful coastal-chic decor by London-based DO Design Studio. There is even a stripy-blazered concierge, and the walls are covered in enormous black-and-white images of Victorian vacationers.  

The majority of the 50 blue-and-white rooms offer ocean views, and all have amenities from The White Company in the bathrooms, along with binoculars, crab lines, and buckets for the youngsters. If you want to spend a lot, choose room 514 since it is enormous and features a roll-top bath with amazing views. A suite is an option for families with up to four members.  

South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Cliff Road, Salcombe TQ8 8JH

Windsor, England  

The royal town of Windsor has gotten a lot of media attention over the past several years, both for happy events (such as the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the passing of Princess Eugenie, the late Queen's granddaughter) and more somber ones (the funerals of both the late Prince Philip and Her much-missed Majesty the Queen). The one thing that remained consistent throughout it all, though, was that this Thames-side town never failed to impress, from its Windsor Castle focal point to the people meandering about its center. It is a town that blends history and current culture, has an expanding food scene, a vibrant life on the water, and, most importantly for a family vacation, a bevy of fudge shops. It is only one hour from London. Take a Duck Tour, which will take you through the city before transforming into a boat and plunging into the river in true Transformer fashion. You can also take the kids to Windsor Castle to view Queen Mary's Doll's House and eat a substantial meal at the many restaurants and pubs that line the river.  

Windsor lodging options include Coworth Park.  

This hotel is large, flashy, and ostentatious—in a good way. The proximity of Legoland Windsor, Windsor Great Park, and Royal Ascot Racecourse is perfect for the equine motif that gallops amicably through Coworth Park.  

At the spacious entrance, statues of horses welcome you. The walls are covered with eccentric racing pictures and framed rosettes. A barn full of spotless horses is outside. Even the most anxious beginner may enjoy a hack through part of the 240 acres of the undulating countryside since grooms of all ages take care of riders. While dining with kids in the laid-back Barn, where spaghetti, wood-fired pizzas, cottage pie, and sticky toffee pudding are served on plates decorated with images of ponies, service is prompt, if occasionally excessively attentive (one wall is decked out with horsey accessories).  

The dining room in the main house is more formal, and when it's time for drinks, you might hear someone playing the grand piano in the drawing room. But if you spare your kids this trauma and treat them to cozy room service and a babysitter who comes prepared with tons of DVDs and board games, it will likely be much more soothing for everyone.  

Coworth Park is located at Blacknest Road and Sunningdale in Ascot, SL5 7SE.  

Glasgow, Scotland  

Perth, Scotland, a leisurely city beside the River Tay, has a lot to offer as a destination for UK family vacations. A historic palace is nearby (Scone Palace, the crowning place of Scottish kings, where Macbeth, Robert the Bruce, and Charles II were once crowned). In addition, there are several museums, an autonomous gastronomy culture, and expansive green areas, all of which are great for unwinding after a long day of touring. As of 2021, Perth will be the first UK city in more than 400 years to be able to boast a community of wild beavers, best observed from the rails of a river cruise. Here, streets are pedestrianized, fair trade is a significant priority, and beavers may be seen in their natural habitat.  

Perth lodging options: Gleneagles Hotel  

Since Sharan Pasricha's Ennismore business (best known for The Hoxton Hotels) acquired Scotland's grand dame in 2015 and went about infusing some cool into its traditional tweediness, the property, sprawled at the foot of the heather-flecked Ochil Hills, has been recovering. The new Gleneagles is substantial, even majestic, with additional wings and vertical augmentations. The hotel can be family-friendly thanks to the miniature dressing gowns and the chic kids' menu (smoked salmon, le petit steak Frites) at the plant-filled Birnam Brasserie, in addition to the two-Michelin-star restaurant (Andrew Fairlie) and the glitzy cocktail bar (the dark American Bar). Along with the three renowned golf courses and a pitch and putt course for aspiring Rory McIlroys, there are tennis courts, Shetland pony rides, archery lessons, falconry clinics with Harris hawks, and miniature off-roading in scaled-down Series 1 Land Rovers.  

Scotland's Auchterarder, The Gleneagles Hotel, PH3 1NF  

Bristol, Somerset  

Since the publication of the Domesday Book in 1086, Frome has been a bustling market town. It is one of the uncommon British towns that has managed to maintain its traditional village feel while still offering many activities, dining options, and independent shops to peruse. The center's interconnected streets are studded with old buildings with exposed beams, eccentric galleries, and guesthouses and taprooms that are bursting with character and personalities. It has just been named one of the "greatest places to live in Britain." Longleat Safari Park is close by, or alternatively, from March to December, the renowned Frome Independent Market opens its doors on the first Sunday of each month with stalls stocked with regional crafts, artisanal items, and delicious street cuisine.  

Babington House is a lodging option in Frome.  

Although it is evident, how can you refuse? This Somerset country home is everyone's favorite cool cat, with standards that can be depended upon by the fussiest of urbanites. It is quirky, unique, and determinedly casual (suits are frowned upon), but luxurious and indulgent.  

With kids along for the ride, it's equally enjoyable. There are several lawns where you may play croquet, hide in grottos, rent bikes, and feed the ducks. The family suites were refurbished last year, which is the best part (a three-month process showing just the right amount of efficient care). The furnishings combine the Soho House group's distinctive vintage charm with modern technology, such as an Xbox, whitewashed bunk beds with polka-dot blankets and owl-shaped pillows, a blackboard covered in a wooden skipping rope, and a sitting area with soft edges and velvet couches. With half-sized bathtubs and low-level sinks that even a three-year-old can reach, the bathrooms are especially ingenious.  

Babington House, BA11 3RW, Somerset